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Local primary election in May will cost $150,000, close schools

An unprecedented development in Montgomery County politics is on tap for the big 2018 election year.

The county's Election Commission is scheduling a May 1, 2018, political primary for both Democrats and Republicans to choose nominees for most of the county's local races for constitutional offices and 21 county commission seats.

Both local political parties have successfully petitioned the Election Commission to hold the May 1 primary, to choose local candidates to represent their respective parties in the Aug. 2, 2018 county general election.

Historically, these local county offices have seldom been tied to any party affiliations, at least not officially. Last year, the Republican Party held a primary for the county Highway Supervisor and Assessor of Property races, as well as the new Circuit judgeship.

But that was a rare exception, and this time — unless one or both parties chooses to back out of the 2018 primary — they'll make local history by both being on a primary ballot at the same time.

That last Republican primary came at no cost to the county, because it was tied to the already-scheduled Presidential Preference Primary.

As it stands now, the specially-scheduled 2018 primary will cost the county $150,000, because it will be an independently-scheduled, stand-alone election.

Additionally, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has announced that schools will be closed May 1 because of the special primary. Many of the CMCSS schools serve as voting precincts.

"Both parties have called for local party primaries for May 1," Elizabeth Black, administrator of elections, confirmed to The Leaf-Chronicle Thursday afternoon.

"All eligible county offices will be on the primary ballot for both parties, except for School Board races that are exempt under state statute," Black said.

There is still an opportunity for escape by both parties. Black said they have until Nov. 17 to rescind their decision to hold primaries in 2018.

"It's going to be a new situation for us, and probably a little confusing. We'll see how it goes," she said.

Black said she had received letters requesting the primaries from the local chairs of both parties — Chairwoman Sharon Massey-Grimes and Secretary Helga Redd for the local Republicans, and Chairwoman Joann Latz and Secretary Antonia Cassida for the local Democrats.

Late Thursday, The Leaf-Chronicle reached out by phone to the heads of both local parties for comment.

Latz responded, and said that while Democrats have spoken, she's personally not for having the primary.

"The thinking was that, the Republican Party did it last year, so if one party chooses to engage in a primary, it should be open to all voters," Latz said.

"However, I personally feel that these offices in local government should not be politicized, and I feel that it's fiscally irresponsible to have a county primary. For that reason it was a difficult decision to request this primary. We are going forward, but the cost associated with it ... I would hope that there would be an opportunity not to hold it," she said.